The DE BEERS Ginza Building, Tokyo, Japan

Fluid and flexible form in reality

Jun Mitsui & Associates Architects adds swirling new façades to the luxurious DE BEERS Ginza Building in Tokyo

Ginza is one of the most famous commercial districts in the world, Marronnier Street a gracious, active street lined with creatively designed buildings. The DE BEERS Ginza Building design is intended to reflect the sophisticated Ginza streetscape and fit appropriately into this dynamic context. In the process of the design, the first image that came to the architect’s mind was a twisting form of light in motion.

A ribbon of light coming out of the earth sparkles in the atmosphere as an aurora with ever-changing colour and form. The DE BEERS Ginza building representing gracious light like the aurora was felt by designers Jun Mitsui & Associates Inc. Architects as most appropriate for the site. The fluid and flexible form of the building was also inspired by the beauty of the female outline, the sparkling light on the surface of the gently curved form of the building subtly suggesting the shimmering reflection of a diamond.

This was the aesthetic essence of the DE BEERS Ginza building design. The expression of the curtain wall varies continuously as it ascends and as it reflects the ever-changing appearance of the sky. The exterior surface of the building reflects the sunlight and Ginza city lights in a subtle way and the impression of the façade as time passes.

On the exterior of the building, specially-finished stainless steel pipes are horizontally laid out, creating sparkles of light throughout the surface of the building. Throughout history, the Ginza district has been an incubator for design trends reflecting the changing times. The architect relates: “I hope that the DE BEERS Ginza building becomes an integral part of Ginza history. Its design is intended to reflect the excitement and importance of Ginza’s ever-changing appearance.”